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Source : The Indian Armed Forces - A Basic Guide by Major General AFSIR KARIM AVSM (retd), © 1995 by Lancer Publishers & Distributors.
In 1902, when Lord Kitchner took over as Commander-in-Chief of the Army it was further reorganised as a regular force. By 1914, at the time of the outbreak of the First World War, the strength of the Indian Army had reached approximately 150,000. By the time the Second World War started in 1939, the strength of the Indian Army had risen to 189,000. In 1947, with the partition of the country, two-thirds of the strength remained with India and one-third went away to Pakistan. On the eve of our independence the strength of the undivided Army was nearly two and a half million.
Indian soldiers served all over the world during the British regime. They fought from China in the East to France and Africa in the West. They fought bravely during 1914-18 and 1939-42, during the First and Second World Wars. The tales of their valour spread from China in the East to Iraq, Africa, Italy and France in the West. The secret of success of the Indian Army has been its unflinching sense of duty, discipline and traditions of valour.
On 15th January 1948 Lieutenant General K. M. Cariappa became the first Indian Commander- in- Chief (C-IN-C). 15th January is now celebrated every year as Army Day. On this occasion the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) takes the salute at the Army Day Parade in the Delhi cantonment. This is a grand parade held just before the Republic Day Parade.
The rulers of some princely states were reluctant to join the new Indian dominion and many had to coaxed by threat of force. The Army was yet to reorganise its partition when the call of duty came from Junagadh and Hyderabad. The Indian Army bravely and without bloodshed consolidated out position in these states, which then became parts of Indian dominion.
The war raged in Jammu & Kashmir from October 1947 to January 1949. It ended in a proud victory for our Army and Pakistan failed to capture Jammu or Srinager. However a premature cease-fire was accepted by our Government which enabled Pakistan to hold large parts of Jammu & Kashmir state. These areas under Pakistan's occupation are called Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Northern Areas.
From 1948 to 1962 Indian Army contingents did a number of peacekeeping assignments outside the country, in Korea, Gaza (Egypt) and Congo (Central Africa) on behalf of United Nations and earned great honour for the country.
In 1962 when China attacked India the Indian Army was rushed to fight them on the icy heights of the Himalayas for which they were ill-equipped and ill-prepared. A sort of 'code of honour' has come down to us from our great commanders and soldiers of the past eras. It is a matter of great pride that whenever India has been attacked the Indian Army stood by this code of valour, fidelity and honour. The tradition never to surrender has remained ingrained in our fighting men and our Army has resolute soldiers who are ever ready to do their duty unto death without hesitation.
The main characteristics of Indian soldiers are:
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